Method of treating crimped textile fibers



Sept. 19, 1961 1 c. .1. RUSSO ET AL 3,000,059

METHOD OF TREATING CRIMPED TEXTILE FIBERS Original Filed Feb. 4, 1957 4Sheets- Sheet 1 INVENTORS CARL J. @055 ALEXANDER [.4 TE/FUA/OV/C BYHf/V/e /4-5//V$K/ Sept. 19, 1961 c. J. RUSSO ET AL METHOD OF TREATINGCRIMPED TEXTILE FIBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 4, 1957INVENTORS CARL J. 80550 ALEXANDER L. 7'/?/F/NOV/( HENRY A .5/N5K/ATTOR/Vf) Sep:. 19, 1961 c. .1. RUSSO ET AL METHOD OF TREATING CRIMPEDTEXTILE FIBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Feb. 4, 195'? INVENTORSCA fQL J R0550 ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1961 c. J. RUSSO ETAL 3,000,059

METHOD OF TREATING CRIMPED TEXTILE FIBERS Original Filed Feb. 4, 195'? 4Sheets-Sheet 4 CAPL .7. E055 ALEXANDER L. TE/FU/VOV/C BY HEN/8 Y.SY/VSK/ ATTOR/Vf) IN VENTORS "United States Patent 3,000,059 METHOD OFTREATING CRllVlPED TEXTILE FIBERS Carl J. Russo, Newark, Alexander L.Trifunovic, Wilmlngtcn, and Henry A. Sinski, Aldan, Del., assignors toJoseph Bancroft & Sons Co., Wilmington, Del., a corporation of DelawareOriginal application Feb. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 638,027, now Patent No.2,960,729, dated Nov. 22, 1960. Divided and this application Mar. 9,1960, Ser. No. 13,926

6 Claims. (Cl. 19-66) This invention relates to a method and apparatusfor handling and treating fibers which have been crimped in a stuttercrimper.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial No.638,027, filed February 4, 1957, new Patent No. 2,960,729 for Apparatusfor Treating Textile Fibers.

An object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus of theabove type having novel and im proved characteristics.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved system for maintainingthe crimp'in a mass of crimped fibers during subsequent treating andsetting operations.

Another object is to provide improved mechanism wherein the crimpedfibers may be treated and set independently of the operation of thestufier crimper.

Another object is to provide means for packaging the mass of crimpedfibers as discharged from the stufier crimper and for maintaining themass in compacted form during the setting and processing stages.

Another object is to provide means whereby the processed fibers infilament or spun yarn form are Withdrawn from the package and wound ontoa spool or cop for subsequent use.

The features of the invention will be better understood by referring tothe following description, taken in con nection with the accompanyingdrawings in which certain specific embodiments have been set forth forpurposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus for wrapping and reeling themass of crimped fibers which are discharged from the stutter crimper,with parts in section for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are detail views illustrating different embodiments ofmechanism for controlling the operation of the packaging apparatus ofFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 6 illustratinga further embodiment of packaging apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of an apparatus with parts in section forunreeling and winding the processed fibers;

FIG. 8 is a partial section taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the package treating stages.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the stuffer crimper is shown as of thegeneral type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,760,252 andcomprises a block 10 which may be heated if desired and which carries atube 11 forming the crimping chamber. A pair of feed rolls 12 and 13which are driven by suitable means not shown are adapted to feed fibersin the form of a filament, tow or yarn 14 into the lower end of the tube11 for crimping. Suitable guides 15 are provided for guiding the fibers14 to the bite of the rolls 12 and 13. The roll 13 may be spring-pressedas by means of a spring 16 for gripping the fibers for feeding the sameinto the tube 1 1 against the pressure of a mass 17 of crimped fibersheld therein and for forcing the mass of crimped fibers along said tubeuntil it is discharged from the discharge end 18 thereof.

In the embodiment shown the discharge end '18 of the tube 11 is bent toalter the path of the mass 17 by about This change in direction of thepath of the mass of crimped fibers alters the back pressure which isexerted against the entrance of the yarn by the feed rolls 12 and 13.This pressure may be varied or adjusted to the desired value by varyingthe length of the tube 11 and the angular bend at the discharge end 18.

A tape 20 is withdrawn from a supply roll 21 by a driven roll 22 and isfed around guide rolls 23, 24 and 25 to underlie the mass of crimpedfibers 17 as they are discharged from the end 18 of the tube 11. Theroll 22 is driven through gears in a gear box 26 from a drive shaft 27which is driven by a suitable motor not shown. A presser roll 28 pressesthe tape 20 against the driven roll 22 to provide the necessary tractionfor withdrawing the tape from the reel 21.

As the tape 20 advances from the guide roll 25 with the mass of crimpedfibers disposed thereon, the tape is folded over by a folder 29 intotubelike form so as to wrap and confine the mass of crimped fibers 17 inthe form of a continuous tube-like package 30.

The tape 20 may be of the thermoplastic type in which ease theoverlapped edges may be heat-sealed in the usual manner for retainingthe tape in tubular form during subsequent operations. The tape may bemade of pervious material such as an open mesh fabric to permitpenetration of a treating agent into the packaged mass of fibers, andthe overlapped edge may or may not be sealed depending upon the natureof the subsequent treatment.

The tube 30 of crimped fibers thus wrapped is reeled on a perforatedsleeve 31 which is held on a spindle 32 carried by a shaft 33 which isdriven by a belt 34 from a pulley 35 on the motor shaft 27. The tensionof the belt 34 may be maintained by idler pulley 36.

The shaft 33 is driven through a tension drag 37 which is adapted toexert the necessary force for reeling the tube 30 of crimped fibers onthe sleeve 31, and to provide slippage when the tension of the tube 30exceeds a predetermined value. Means is provided for shifting thespindle 32 and the shaft 33 axially as required for laying the tube 30on the sleeve 31 in the form of uniform layers as in the usual windingmachine. The sleeve 31 is provided with flanges removably mountedthereon.

The operation is continued until the winding of crimped fibers on thesleeve 31 reaches the required size after which the sleeve and windingis removed and a new sleeve with flanges thereon is substituted.

FIG. 3 illustrates one form of control for the feed of the wrapped massof fibers. In this form the tube 30 as it advances from the folder 29passes between a pair of rolls 40 and 41. The roll 41 is mounted on anarm 42 which is pivoted at 43 to bear against the tube 30 and to shiftin position in accordance with the fullness of the tube. The arm 42 isprovided with an extension 44 which is adapted to actuate a microswitch45 when the roll 41 approaches the roll 40. The microswitch 45 isconnected by means not shown to control the drive for the spindle 32 andis adapted when a loosely packed portion of the tube 30 passes the rolls40 and 41 to interrupt the feed of the spindle 32 until the mass ofmaterial discharged from the crimper tube 11 again fills the package 30to the predetermined extent. The roll 41 also serves to interrupt thefeed when the discharge of material from the discharge end of thecrimper tube 11 is interrupted, Obviously a mechanical linkage may besubstituted for the microswitch for controlling the feed.

A further embodiment of control means is shown in FIG. 4. In this figurea feeler 48 is disposed to contact the mass of crimped fibers betweenthe end 18; of the crimper tube 11 and the folder 29. The feeler 43 ispivoted at 49 and is adapted to actuate a microswitch b as the feelerrises and falls due to diiferences in the quantity of the mass ofcrimped fibers which is delivered from the crimper tube 11. Themicroswitch 50 is connected to control the feed of the tape so as tointerrupt the feed when the feeler 48 senses a break in the mass offibers passing the feeler station. In this Way the operation iscontrolled so that thewrapped package 36 of fibers is maintainedsubstantially uniform.

In the operation of the systems shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 the crimpedfibersare discharged in the form of a compact mass from the end 18 of thecrimper tube 11 and it has been found that the mass tends to retain itsform as it is discharged from the end of the crimper tube, although themass may open up slightly due to the release of pressure. This mass offibers is immediately laid on the tape 20 and passes through the folder29 with the tape so that the tape is progressively folded around themass and tends to hold the same in compacted form. The tape serves as aconvenient carrier for packaging and handling the fibers and at the sametime prevents the crimp from opening up between the crimping'and settingsteps.

The wrapped tubular package 30 is reeled onto the sleeve 31 to form acompact winding which may be subsequently' handled and passed throughvarious treating and setting stages to be described.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the mass of crimped fibersdischarged from the end of the crimp- ,ing tube 11 is advanced andreeled between a pair of tapes instead of being wrapped as in theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIGS. 5 and 6 the mass of crimped fiberswhich is discharged from the end of the crimper tube 11 is fed betweentapes 55 and 56 in substantially the form in which it is discharged fromthe crimper tube. The fiber mass is sufiiciently compact andself-supporting so that it retains its form even though the sides of themass remain unconfined. The tape 55 passes around and in contact withthe outer surface of the bent end 18 of the crimper tube 11. The tape 56is held in contact with the opposite face of the crimper tube 11 by anidler roll 57. The mass of fibers at the discharge end of the tube 11 ispicked up between the two tapes 55 and 56 and is reeled with the tapesonto a sleeve 58 between side flanges 59. The sleeve 58 is disposed on aspindle 6t; which is driven by suitable means not shown. When thedesired quantity of 'material has been wound onto the sleeve 58 thesleeve together with the flanges 59 is removed and the package thusformed is passed through the subsequent treating and setting stageswithout the necessity of removing the flanges 59. V

The core packages on the sleeves 31 or 38 may be treated for setting thecrimp or dyeing the yarn in various ways. As shown in FIG. 9 the woundpackages are stacked on dye tubes 61 of standard pressure dyeing tank62. The dye may be forced through the masses of fibers onto the variouspackages from the dye tubes61 and circulated in the usual manner. Fromthe tank 62 the packages may be removed to a second tank 63 wherein theymay be centrifuged for removing the excess liquid and may be dried in anoven 64.

If the fibers are to be resin-treated they may be impregnated with theresin in the first tank 62, centrifuged for removing excess impregnantin tank 63, dried in oven 64 and cured by heating in a curing oven 65.

Alternatively the packages may be impregnated with a resin in tank 62,centrifuged to remove excess resin in tank 63, impregnated with acatalyst in stage 64 and dried and cured in oven 65. 7

If the fibers are to be steam set, steam may be passed 4 through thetubes 61 in tank 62 for setting the crimp and the packages may be driedin oven 64.

In a further embodiment the crimp may be set while the fibers are in thestuffer crimper by the application of heat to the block 10 in which casethe crimp-set fibers in the packages may be dyed in the pressure dyeingtank 62 and dried in oven 64.

Various other combinations of steps will be readily apparent. In anyevent the mass is treated in such a way as to set the crimp in thefibers and to dye or further process the fibers as desired While stillwound in package form.

The mechanism for Withdrawing and winding the crimped fibers in the formof yarn is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this mechanism thersleeve 31carrying the packages of treated andcrimp-set fibers is disposed on ade-reeling spindle and the wrapped tube 30 is withdrawn between a pairof rolls 71 and 72. The tape 2! is'unwrapped from the package as itpasses over the roll 72 and is smoothed out by the pressure shoe 73 anda baclcng plate 73a feeds over a roll 73b and is reeled onto a roll 74for subsequent reuse. The roll'74 is driven by a gear train 75 from adrive motor 76. The tape may be slit in advance of the rolls 71 and 72if necessary.

The operation of the drive motor 76 is controlled by a microswitch 77which is adapted to be actuated by an arm 73 carrying the roll 71 andspring-pressed into engagement with the wrapped tube 30 by means of aspring 79.

The crimped yarn is withdrawn under tension from the mass of fibers inthe package by means of a winder comprising a spool 80 on which the yarnis wound and a driving roll 81 on which the Winding rests. The winder isshown as a constant speed winder of the usual construction. The crimpedyarn on its way to the winder passes through a friction drag device 82.

In the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the mass ofcrimped fibers is fed'from the sleeve 31 to the discharge point at thebite of the rolls 71 and 2 at which point the mass is unwrapped and thecrimped fibers are withdrawn by the constant speed winder.

.As the fibers are withdrawn from the mass between the rolls 71 and 72the roll 71 approaches the roll 72, thereby actuating the microswitchand operating the motor 76' to withdraw a further quantity of thewrapped tube 30 from the sleeve 31 so as to maintain a substantiallyuniform quantity at the discharge point. The fibers are thus uniformlywithdrawn without danger of tangling and is wound onto the spool 80 toform a yarn package of the usual type.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of treating textile fibers which comprises feeding saidfibers against a compacted mass of previously crimped fibers in anelongated crimping zone in a stufier crimper to cause the fibers to befolded over and crimped, advancing said compacted mass of crimped fibersalong said zone while held compacted in said crimper to a dischargepoint, discharging the mass of fibers from said crimper in the form of acompact core having a cross section corresponding to that of said zone,confining said core in a tape, reeling said tape with said core to forma package, treating said package for processing the fibers therein,unreeling said tape and core and withdrawing the treated fibers undertension from said core.

2. The method of treating textile fibers which comprises feeding saidfibers againsta compacted mass of previously crimped fibers in anelongatedcrimping zone in a stufier crimper to cause the fibers tobe'folded over and crimped, advancing said compacted mass of crimpedfibers along said zone while held compacted in said crimper to adischarge point, discharging the mass of fibers from said crimper in theform of a compact core having a cross section corresponding to. that ofsaid zone, confining said core in a tape, reeling said tape with saidcore to form a package, treating said package to set said e,ooo,059

crimp, unreeling said tape and core and withdrawing the treated fibersunder tension from said core.

3. The method of treating textile fibers which comprises feeding saidfibers against a compacted mass of previously crimped fibers in anelongated crimping zone in a stufier crimper to cause the fibers to befolded over and crimped, advancing said compacted mass of crimped fibersalong said zone while held compacted in said crimper to a dischargepoint, discharging the mass of fibers from said crimper in the form of acompact core having a cross section corresponding to that of said zone,confining said core in a tape, reeling said tape with said core to forma package, treating said package with heat to set said crimp, unreelingsaid tape and core and withdrawing the treated fibers under tension fromsaid core.

4. The method of treating textile fibers which comprises feeding saidfibers against a compacted mass of previously crimped fibers in anelongated crimping zone in a stutter crimper to cause the fibers to befolded over and crimped, advancing said compacted mass of crimped fibersalong said zone while held compacted in said crimper to a dischargepoint, discharging the mass of fibers from said crimper in the form of acompact core having a cross section corresponding to that of said zone,confining said core in a tape, reeling said tape with said core to forma package, treating said package with an impregnant and heat to set saidcrimp, unreeling said tape and core and withdrawing the treated fibersunder tension from said core.

5. The method of treating textile fibers which comprises feeding saidfibers against a compacted mass of previously crimped fibers in anelongated crimping zone in a stufier crimper to cause the fibers to befolded over and crimped, advancing said compacted mass of crimped fibersalong said zone while held compacted in said crimper to a dischargepoint, discharging the mass of fibers from said crimper in the form of acompact core having a cross section corresponding to that of said zone,wrapping said core to form a continuous tube-like package, reeling saidpackage, treating said reeled package to set said crimp, unreeling saidpackage and withdrawing the crimped fibers therefrom.

6. The method of treating textile fibers which comprises feeding saidfibers against a compacted mass of previously crimped fibers in anelongated crimping zone in a stuffer crimper to cause the fibers to befolded over and crimped, advancing said compacted mass of crimped fibersalong said zone while held compacted in said crimper to a dischargepoint, discharging the fibers from said crimper in the form of a compactcore having a cross section corresponding to that of said zone, wrappingsaid core to form a continuous tube-like package, reeling said package,treating said reeled package to set said crimp, unreeling said packageand withdrawing the crimped fibers therefrom, and winding said withdrawnfibers in package form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,643,505 Lindsay Sept. 27, 192.7 1,656,828 Powell Jan. 17, 19282,760,252 'Shattuck Aug. 28, 1956 2,829,421 Hanson Apr. 8, 1958

